Tokyo, May 29th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with Mizuho Fukushima, Head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan.  

Liu said, since the establishment of inter-party relations more than 40 years ago, the CPC and the Social Democratic Party have always maintained friendly exchanges. The Chinese side appreciates the Social Democratic Party's unswerving commitment to peaceful development and the promotion of China-Japan friendship. The Chinese side believes that peace is hard-won and should be cherished. Military blocs will not help maintain regional security and peace, but bring security threats. The CPC is willing to continue to maintain friendly exchanges in various forms with the Social Democratic Party and play a greater role in promoting enduring China-Japan friendship.  

Mizuho Fukushima fondly recalled her visit to China in January this year, saying that the Social Democratic Party attaches great importance to its relations with China and speaks positively of the meeting between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Xi Jinping at the end of last year and the recent meeting between government leaders of China and Japan. The Social Democratic Party adheres to the concept of peace, opposes revising the pacifist constitution, understands China's concern over the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, and is willing to strengthen exchanges with the CPC to promote the improvement of Japan-China relations and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.  

Kunio Arakaki, Deputy Head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, Yuko Ohtsubaki, Deputy Head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, Ryoichi Hattori, Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party, and others were present.